December 31, 2013

Hello everyone! Can you believe that 2014 is almost here? Where has the time gone? Today, I just wanted to share with you my top 10 "favorite" layouts of 2013! Just looking at these layouts makes me very happy! I love going back through the past years and looking at my older favorites. I can definitely see how my scrapbooking gets better and better each year that goes by. I've also made a huge effort to use more COLOR photos on my layouts. Last year, I think that more than 80% of my layouts included a black and white photo. And yes, while that's OK, nothing wrong with that, I think that color photos make the layouts look more real.

December 30, 2013

Happy holidays to you! Zva Creative and our talented NEW 2014 Design Team welcome you to our December blog hop where we officially welcome many of our new team members to our monthly hops! We are very excited about this year’s team and are sure that you will be inspired by and love their work. Are you ready to hop along and get to know them better?

And as a bonus— today’s hop is EXTRA special because you will get a sneak peek of Zva’s newest products which are set to be released at the next CHA tradeshow!

The hop begins at Zva Creative’s Facebook page! Be sure head on over to check it out! You will also find a complete list of all the participating blogs there (in case there is a glitch along the way).

As you know, Zva offers many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals. If you like what you see along the hop you can find a list of stores and online retailers that sell Zva HERE.

Just wait til you see all of the beautiful bling and pearls coming out!! Don't tell, but there are TWO peeks here :) Aren't they so pretty? I am in love with these butterflies.

If you would like to play along with our design team, just follow along the blog path. I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way!
The Blog Hop starts today, December 30th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, December 31st.
***Prizes***
Hidden on FIVE of the designer’s blogs is a Zva Creative prize package! Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Blog Hop post... you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. However, the more times you comment along the blog hop path, the more chances you will have to win.
The 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, January 1st on Zva Creative’s Facebook page. We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to Zva’s blog on Wednesday to see if you are a winner!

We also thought it would be more fun to add even more chances to win our blog hop prize! To increase your chances of winning:
* Comment to let us know that you posted on your Facebook page about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)
* Comment to let us know that you "tweeted" about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)
* Comment to let us know that you asked your local store to carry Zva creative products. If they already do, that's fantastic, maybe you can suggest other products that they don't carry.
*Hop over to Zva’s facebook page and “like” our page or leave a comment there to tell us that you stopped by if you already like follow us there!

December 25, 2013

So last night while I was putting stuff away, I came across a little present that had From Edward, To mom. So I didn't open it and I put it on the chair next to the tree. And do you know that before Edward opened his gifts, he found that gift and said, "here, mommy. Open it. It's for you." He was so excited and proud. I on the other hand, was touched that he wanted me to open his presents BEFORE he opened his. Love him. This is what he gave me. Some beautiful reindeers for my Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas!! Someone was a very good boy this year. Edward was up at 8:30 am. He got up and jumped right out of bed and ran down the hallway. He was so excited to see if Santa left him any presents. hehe.

He asked me a million times for this truck with the little monsters... It was the only thing that he repeatedly asked for.

And Santa felt that he needed some other pieces to go with the set.

This smart boy guessed that there was a ninja turtle in here... hehe.

He was a bit excited. He asked where the other ones were. Ooops, Santa only got him one...

And here's everything he got. Santa messed up a little this year by buying him three sets of legos... Doesn't he realize who has to put this stuff together?

December 22, 2013

It's not often that I create a layout that I absolutely love, but I just LOVE this layout. I was able to pull out my mist for a change since he wasn't here tonight! Fun stuff. I mixed some Elle's Studio and Pink Paislee together. Love the vellum die cuts by Pink Paislee. They are awesome.

December 20, 2013

I spy with my little eye, Rudolph! The other day on our way to pick up a Christmas tree, there was a mommy and a baby eating near the road. I had Pete stop so I could snap a picture and she was looking right at me. Click on it to make it bigger!! How cool is this shot?

December 18, 2013

Oh wow, I can't believe it... only 7 days until Christmas! Good thing I'm done all of my Christmas shopping. I am almost done wrapping all of my gifts too. I just need to get some stocking suffers for Edward!

The other night Edward waited for me to come home so we could decorate his gingerbread house. We had the best time making it too.

Today we went to buy our Christmas tree after we had lunch at "Famous Daves" yay! Love that place.

Edward was running all over the place like a crazy kid. He is BEYOND excited for Christmas :)

Lunch at Famous Daves was so good. Edward wanted Red Lobster instead. He was totally out numbered.

I fell in love with this little pig at the restaurant. I just wanted to unplug him and take him home.

Oh, meet "Fingo". My friend Jen made him for me and I just love him! Edward thinks it's his...

Oh and here's Fingo's buddy,Yummy.

Well, I gotta run now. I have one more mini album to make and I'm done making Christmas gifts. I have to get it done today so I can stick it in the mail tomorrow for a very important person in St.Pete's, Florida.

December 11, 2013

I finally scrapped Edward's Christmas photos from last year! The "Hello December" collection by Glitz Design was PERFECT for these photos since Edward was wearing a yellow shirt in these photos. The present that he was most excited about was his Disney Cars. This boy loves them and has played with them everyday for the past year. Who would have thought they would have been "the present". I could have gotten away with just getting him that if I had known; forget about buying the other stuff.

I decided to use jewels by Zva Creative and ribbon by May Arts to add the finishing touches to my layout.

December 7, 2013

It's sad seeing all of these scrapbooking magazine companies go from paper to digital. It just isn't the same as a paper magazine. Maybe, I'll feel differently if some of these magazines are offered through the kindle. I often wonder if most designers gave up on submitting to these scrapbook magazines since they no longer get compensated through their design team... I on the other hand, will continue submitting to Scrapbook Trends, not for the product credit or digital issues, but because I do not want them to eventually stop offering a magazine!

Sure, there are tons of layouts in the galleries, but I like flipping through the magazines to see the very best projects, rather than going through the galleries... Call me a snob, whatever... it's true.

Having said this, this brings me to my main point. This is my last PAPER issue that I will be in. Months ago, I almost recycled my magazines so that I would have more space in my scrap room. I am so glad that I didn't!!! I can't wait to receive the "Scrapbooking Handbook" magazine by Creating Keepsakes. They just went digital too. Judging from the cover, this is going to be a fabulous book! I have two layouts in it too. YAY! You can purchase a copy at Scrapbooking.com.

December 6, 2013

Hello everyone. You do realize that Christmas is quickly approaching us right? I only have two more gifts to buy and I'm all done. And the best part of it was that I didn't charge a thing!

I've been on a reading kick lately. I've been finding some time to do what I love and that's curling up on the couch and reading a good book. I usually read while Edward's watching his shows and after he's asleep for the night.

Have you read this series by Veronica Roth? OMG, It's so good. Last week, I read 2 out of the three books in the series (Divergent and Insurgent). I'm on the last book, Allegiant. Not going to be a spoiler, but I honestly don't like where this book is going. I'm assuming I know how it's going to end, but I'm hoping that I'm wrong.

And I've managed to find some time to watch a little bit of TV for a change. I'm loving the Vampire Diaries. They are in season 5 and it comes on Thursday nights on CW at 10pm! You can watch the older series on Netflix.

And I love Witches of east end that comes on Lifetime, Sunday nights at 10pm. Yep, that's Channing Tatum's hot wife!